Paula Cullen has created history by becoming the first ever welfare officer for scholarship and Academy teams in Super League. Hull KR announced this yesterday on their Official site. With covid interruptions and careers being stalled before they have really begun this appointment could prove to be very beneficial to a number of these young lads in their future development both on and off the field and is to be welcomed. Hopefully this lead may be followed by other clubs. These young players are the future of our great sport.
On the subject of Hull KR, it does appear, at least to outsiders, this club is definitely one on the up in many areas. Following a much improved season in 2021 and early signings and re-signings of quality, buying their ground and surrounding land from the Council, a ten day warm weather training camp before Christmas, a very good match day income stream with Craven streat, all initiatives following the appointment of a very experienced and knowledgeable CEO with, apparently, other income streams in the pipeline.

I would imagine a lot of the welfare being done at all clubs is skewed towards the junior players anyway. My own club has a head of youth management as well as a club welfare officer. Other clubs have different strategies for looking after the well being of young players. but KR certainly seem to be pushing in a positive direction to work towards having the elite academy they currently don't have. This can only help.